Buzz Production came into being seven years ago when Adrian Potts and James Fairclough decided to pool their knowledge and skills and deliver what they believed was a better product, a better service and a better result for customers they felt were being a little short-changed.
Their belief saw them invest their savings and time into creating Buzz Production, a company whose creativity and endeavour sees them working with globally-significant businesses developing often bespoke solutions for a specific marketing scenarios. From illuminated bus-side advertising hoardings; oversize surgery lighting; market wagons, skeletal stag heads; temporary coffee booths; and all manner of exhibition structures including walls, counters and feature elements.
Both Adrian and James are skilled CAD designers and the design office overlooks the production and storage space. To the rear, in one corner, there is a new panel saw, to the centre there are two large worktables and in the other corner, the company’s recently-acquired CNC – a CR Onsrud 97M12 Mate Series machine.
Supplied by Hemel Hempstead-based ATA Engineering, the standard 8 x 4ft Mate Series machine looks very much at home and is exactly what Adrian and James had hoped it would be. The duo ordered the machine followed an extensive tour of all the options at W12 and felt that the Onsrud on ATA Engineering’s stand was the appropriate option for Buzz and its work. Also, the professional attitude of the team at ATA helped to clarify the decision.
Many readers will be aware of the CR Onsrud’s basic strength and engineering integrity – and although the Mate Series is the entry-level point of the CR Onsrud range, no corners have been cut on the basic specification.
The particular model at Buzz Production has a two-zone, pneumatically-controlled NEMI vacuum bed running off a Becker VTFL250 vacuum pump. It boasts a ten-position tool-changer, an automatic tool digitiser and a 12hp HSD HSK63 spindle with a machining speed of up to 50m per minute.
One of the key aspects in favour of this machine over many in the marketplace is its compact dimensions for its performance output. With a small, mobile controller, the effective working footprint is barely larger than the machine, the pump and the extraction itself. In terms of structural integrity, the two-tonne steel machine is robustly manufactured in a no-nonsense manner – as one would expect from Onsrud. A reassuring warranty and support package – two-year warranty and five years 24/7 online support from ATA – ensures that there is little to worry about in the rare eventuality that something should go awry.
The CR Onsrud Mate looks very much at home at Buzz Production – which, it has to be said, keeps one of the very cleanest production spaces to be seen.
“We have quite a few customers who come down and see us,” explains Adrian, “so it is important to represent ourselves well. In addition to knowing what we can do, our clients can come down and see that we have the capability in-house to deal with the design work, the production of the various elements, the assembly and after-use storage – it all gives our clients confidence in Buzz.”
In saying that though, James adds that the company is nearing its comfortable capacity in this unit and is seeking to add to its space in the near future.
With the seasonality of the company’s work, Buzz is now able to offer contract capacity to the market. “From December through to April, we have capacity to produce contract work,” says Adrian. “We already do some of this throughout the year, but for three or four months, our cutting work subsides and we can offer a design and cut service to suit a variety of needs.”
Businesses needing accurate CNC work could also take advantage of both Adrian and James’ expertise in CAD design and provide customers with an outstanding service without having to invest themselves.
Buzz Production says it could not imagine working life without its Mate – saying that one year after having purchased its CNC, are very happy with the investment and would wholeheartedly recommend both ATA Engineering and CR Onsrud machines as a very positive experience.
Buzz Production
T 01306 735332
www.buzzproduction.co.uk
ATA Engineering
T 01442 264411
www.ataeng.com
